Bumper for motor vehicles



e. Se i925 Sil WGS@ BUMPER FOR MO'JLGR VEHICLES C Filed April. 2l. 19241Patented Dec.. 8, i925.

.. STATES PATENT ortica( l HRILES G. BSS, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, SSIGNOR0F UNE-HALF T 'WILLIAM L.

.BOSS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINQIS.

BUMPER FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

Application led April 21, 1924. Serial Iial'itll;y

i( '0 ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES G. Ross, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chcago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Bumpers for MotorVehicles, ot'- which the following is a specitication.

My invention relates to improvement in bumpers for vehicles of`variouskinds and particularly for automobiles and trucks.

)nc of the objects ot' my invention is the provision of'a bumper whereinthe several parts are so arranged and articulated that they will be ableto absorb all ordinary shocks due to collision without becoming damagedand without transmit-ting the shocks to the vehicle to which the bumperis attached. i

-A further object of my invention'is the vprovision of a bumper whichwill be light in weight, economical to manufacture, stron(r and durableand so constructed that, should one ofits parte be damaged in acollision, that part may be readily replaced without the necessity ofreplacing the undamaged parts.

The invention consist-sin the novel constructions arrangements andvdevices to be hereinafter described and claimed for" carrying out theabove stated objectsv and such other objects as will appear from thefollowing description of. certain preferred embodiments illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, wherein- Fig. l is a plan View' of one formof bumper embodying t-he principles of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational View of the bumper shown in lig. l;

Fig. 3 is a detail view showing a modified form of connection betweenthe outer ends ci' the impact bars and the supporting member of thebumper shown in the preceding views; n i

Fig. 4 is a plan view of abuinper also embodying the principles of my,"invention but et' inoditied construction;

Fig'. 5 is a front elevational viewof the bumper shown inlfig. 4;; and l'i Fig. 6 is a detail View of one of the connecting members employed inthe bumper shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

Like characters of reference designate like parts in the several views.

Referring rst to Figs. 1 and 2, thev impact members l0 placed end :toend are disposed in aplane above that of the supporting member 8. Tworesilient impact members 11 also placed end to end are disposed in aplane below that of the supporting vmember 8. The outer ends of the twosets oli impact members are .preferably pivotally connected to the outerends ofthesupporting member in which case eyes l2 are formed on theextremities oit the supporting member and eyes 18 are formed on theouter ends of each of the impact members. Two pintlemembers which may beinthe form of bolts'glt are passed through the eyes of the upper set ofimpact members, the eyes of the supporting member and nally through theeyes of the lower set of impact members. Spacing members 15 arepreferably provided on each of the pintle members, being interposedbetween the sup porting member 8 and the respective sets of impactmembers. 'iA resilient bar 16 of elliptical formationhas its medialportion bearing against and fastened to the medial portion of thesupporting member@ by a bolt 17. The ends ofthe bar 16 terminates ineyes 18 which lie between the respective adjacent ends of the impactmembers l() and 1l. The adjacent ends of the impact members l0 and 11terminate in eyes 19. A member 20 for flexibly connecting the adjacentends of thelimpact members and the adjacent ,ends of the bar 1,'6, isprovided on its upper andlower ends with laterally extending perforatedears 2li Pintle members preferably in Ithe form of bolts 22 extendthrough' the upper ears 2l, the eyes on .the adjacent ends of the impactbars 10, the

`eyes on thel adiacent ea'ds of the bar 16,

tall

parted to the. medial portion ot the impact?` ineens tend to .torce saidportion closer io the supporting bar 8 which would tend to forcebackwardly the ends ot the support ing bar, consequently the medialportion'ot the supporting bar tends to unire forwardly and thus augmentsthe shock zilisorptire capacity of the bowed nieinber 16. A modifiedforni ot' connection between the outer ends of the impact members and vthe respectivel outer ends ot' the supporting member is shownin Fig. 23.ln the modi lied construction. the'outcr ends ot the iinpact bars 10 and11 yare riveted to e cross bar Q4. the outer end ot the supporting'member 8 also being riveted to .said har. llVhile this form otconnection is less e;\:- pensive, it is not desirable hecuuse the partsare not flexibly connected and. therefore, cannot more relatively toearn other. In that form ot my invention shown .in Figs. 4i and 5, theiunnper includes n transversely extending resilient supporting bnr 25'having its ends turned forwardly and then inwardly to provide thenngnlarly disposed portions A sen'ii-ellipticel resilient loer 526 hasits medizil portion bearing against and preferably connected. ns byineens of u bolt 27, to the mediul portieri ot thev 'bnr 25. Eyes 28 areformed on the extremities of the portions 25u; Connecting members Q9.see Fig. 6, are mounted on the rcspectire ends of the ber 26, e'nchconnecting nnmcer have ing spaced perforated eers 30 which strnddle theeyes 28. Two impact. u'iembcrs 3l are disposed so that one lies in nplane above and the other ,in u. plane below tiint occupied by thesupporting' member @t3-:ind the resilientl butler member Q6. Eres fireprovided onl the ends ot the impact members. Pintle men'ibers which muyhe in the form ot' bolts 33 pirotalliv connect thil respectiveextremities ot the imperi'. mein bers with the extremities ot the resi]Vt. bur 26 und the extremities ot' the, portiinis 2.53. saidpintle'nicmbers extending' thri'nigl'i the eyes olf the upper impactmenilier, the upper cars of the connecting members 29, the eyes 28,v thelower ears ot the coni'iecting members 29 and thence through the eyes otthelower 'impact member.

It will he noted that the Atour impact members of the bumper sho'u'n'inFigs. l and 2 and the two impact members the ,essere bumper shown'inFigs. l and 5 are nlile in construction, hence they may be insole fromthe same die or with the same tools. The

ianntact'ure of parts identical in construction keepsdown the initialinvestment for dies, tools, ctc., facilitates assembling or the partsforming the bumpers und reduces the number oi repair parts that adenlerhas to carry in stock.' Furthermore, should one oit the impactmembers become damaged tor @ny reason, it is unnecessary to discord theentire bumper, :is theduniaged part may be lreadily replaced indepezdentof thev other parte. lt will be noted. that the resilient supportingbars S und 35, the impact inem bers l0, l1 and 31 and 'the resilientbutier bars 16 and 2G may all te inode of stock of the sainecrosssection which a considernl'ile .ndvnntage in the manufacture ot en.article oit this kind on :i henry production basis.

ln both forms oi my invent-ion the. supporting,` beil in combinationw'tli. the impact members forms a resilient structure arranged in loopformation. The inherent tendency ot the resilient structure to resisttieormetion under a shock isuugmented by the resilient buii'cr :meanspositioned within the structure between the impact menus :intl thesupporting member. The shackle-hire connections between the respectiveouter ends the impact bars and the ends ot tile supporting member andthe similar connections between the extremities oit' the resilientbelier bar and the impact members provides e. con struction which luisgreat capaci'u: for' :tiening and absorbing shocks. shoclr parted. toany one port is to e. very considerable extent uniformly distributed `toenti absorbed bj :ill the other parts. The conu struction andurrnnsement or the ports ot' the bumper nrc such that the bumper hes7great capacity for withstaudinq und absorbing` shoclir withouttransmitting its to the vehicle; nevertheless tue parts out the bumper.by reason ot' their arrangement. muy he relatively light in weight7which is very desir-aine both from the standpoint', oi themunutncti'irer and the user. rlhe spaced irnpaot members provide nrelatively wide iinu pact arca and thus prevent the bumper on anothervehicle. 'lrom passing; thereover or thereui'itler. as so frequentlyhappens with bumpers oiC the, single impact bnr type.

l. do not intend to limit my invention 'to the details ot constructionshown and describedj except onliv4 in so t'ar certain ot the appendedclaims :ire specifically so limited, as it will be obvious that iroti`lions may be nitide without departing 'fr the principles ot myin.entionv Y l claim:

l, .fr bumper ot the class described corn irising, in romhirmtion,unitary transverseir extending supporting ineens, impa'ict .menusconnected at its respective extremo les i .1 lil loo esonera iprisinggi'n'combinati'om unitary transversely extending supporting'means, impact mea-ns connected at its respective extremities to heextremities of said supporting means, and. a bowed resilientbuier barimei-posed between said mea-ns and having its extremities pivotallyconnected to said impact means and its medial portion bearing againstsaid supporting means.

3. A bumper of the class described coinprising, in combination, t'ansversely extend ing supporting means, impact means including a pairof members placed end to end and having n*ieir outer ends connected tothe respective endsof said supporting means, a connection between theadjacent ends ot said impact members, and a bowed resilient butter barinterposedbetween and having its extremities pivotallyV connected to oneof and its medial portion bearing against the other of said means.

A bumper of the cin-is described cor prising, in combination,transversely tending supporting means, impact means in cluding a pairof'impact members placed end to end and having their outer endsconnected tothe respective ends of saidksupporting means, a connectionbetween the adjacent ends of said impact members, Iand a b'owedresilient bu'er bar interposedv between said means and having itsextremities pivotally connected with said respective impact members andits medial portion bearing against said supporting means.

y 5. A bumper of the class described comprising, in combination,transversely extending supporting means, a pair of impact members placedend to end and. having their outer ,ends connpcted to th' respectiveends ot said supporting means, a shackle connection between the adjacentends of said `impact members, and resilient butter-means .interposedbetween said supporting means and said impact members. p

6. iii-bumper of the class described comprising, in combination,transversely AextendingI supiiorting means, impact means includ ing'apair out members placed end to end and liaif'ing their outer endsconnected to the respective ends of said supporting means, a shackleconnection between' the ad inacent ends 'of said members, and a bowedresilient butter bar interposed between andV having its extremitiespivotally connected to one` ot' and its medial portion bearing againstthe other of said means.

ii bumper of the class described. conn pissing, in combination,transversely extending supporting means, impact means 'including a pairof members placed end to end and having their outer ends connected tothe respective ends ot' said supporting means, a shackle connectionbetween the adjacent ends of said members, and a bowed resilient buii'erbar interposed between said means and having its entren'iities pivotallyconnected with said respective impact members and its medial portionbearing against said supporting means.-

SQA bumper of the class'described comprising, in combination,transversely ex tending supporting means, impact means including a vpairof'members placed end to end and having their outer ends connected tothe respective ends of said supporting means, a resilient buii'er barinterposed be-4 tween said supporting means and said impact members andbowed so that its medial portion bears against said supportingir meansand its extremities lie adjacent the adiaf cent ends of said impactmembers, and a shackle connection between the adjacent ends of saidimpact members aud the endsoi said buii'er bar.

9. A bumper of the class described coinprising, in combination.transversely extending supporting means, a pair otl impact membersplaced end to end and having their outer ends pivotally connected to therespectiveends o'tf'said supporting means, a. shackle connection betweenthe adjacent ends of said impact members, and resilient buffer meansinterposed between said supporting means and said impact members.

l0. A bumper of the class described comprising, in cmbination,Vtransversely extendingsupporting means, impact means including a pairof members placed end to end and having their outer ends pivotall,Yconnected to the respectiveends of said supporting means, a shackleconnection between the adjacent ends of said members, and a bowedresilient buffer bar. interposed be` tween and having its extremitiespivoially connected to one of and its medial portion ,bearing againstthe'other ot said means.

- 11. A bumper of the class described comprising, in combination,transverselj,7 extending supporting means, impact means including a pairof members placed end to end and having their' outer ends pivotallj,yconnected to the respective ends ot said supporting means, a shackleconnection between the adjacent ends of said-members, and a bowed`resilient buffer bar interposed between said means and having itsextremities pivotally connected with said respective irnpact members andits medial portion bearing against said supporting means.

12. A bumperot1 the class described comprising, vin combination,transversely extending supporting means, impact means including a pairof members placedA end to end and having their outer ends piyotally Dllino

'Sii

eoin'ieeted to tbe respective ends oi said snpporti'ng means, aresilient bnier bar inter 'posed between said supporting means and saidimpact members and bowed so that its medial portion bears against saidsupportinn: moans and its extremities lie adjacent tile adjacent ends ofsaid impari, members. and a shackle connection between (be adjacent endsol said impact members and the ends of said buffer bar.

lf3. A bumper ot' the class dcscril'ied eoinprisinga in combination.unitary.Y transversely extendingr supporting means, e pair ot spacedimpart means arranged one above tlze other in a Cominco vertical planeand having their inspectie@ esti-Mairies connected te tbe respectiveextremities ot said supperline' ineens, and a bowed resilient bnii'crbar interposed between said supporting means and said impart means andlia-ving its extremities pivotally rtmnevted to one of and its medialportion bearing agrainsi tbe other oi" aid means.

bumper of tile glass described coni prising, in eoinbinalirni, unitarirans- Verscly extended supporting means4 a pair of spaced impact nicansarranged one above the otlicr in a common vertical plane and lbarili;'lieir respective extremities pivotally ccmrrted to the respectiveextremities ot said supporting; means, and a bowed resilicnt boiler barinterposed between said sapnoring': ineens and said impact means andbovini; its extremities pivotally connected to cine of and' its medialportion bearing again fne other of said ineens.

Tamper ot the class described cornin combination, unitarytransi'erselji-extending snliporting ineens, a pair oit spaced i2' pactn'ieans arranged one above tbc other in a ('on'nnon Vertical plane andbaring their refq'ierti'vc extremities connected to lilac rcspccliveextremities ol" sai1 snp porting wenns, and :1 bowed resilient 'milerbar interposed between said supporting innins and said impact means `andlawine i I rernities pirotally connected to said v t ineens and itsmedial portion boar- "nst, said supporting means.

bumper olf tlle class described coniin combination. unitary trans--rselu, extending; supporting ineens, a pair ot' spaced impart meansarranged one above tbc other in a #cannon vertical plane and having"their respcctirc sfxtreniities pivotally connected to tile respectiveextremities ol seid sapporiinjg' rait-artsy and a bowed resilientlia'di'er bar interposed between said sul porting' -nxeans and saidimpact ineens and baring its extrfnnities pivotally connected to saidiinpnct, ine ns and its medial portion bearing; agg: 'i i, scidsnliporting means.

l?, A bumper o tbe. class described comprising ia co'i'ibinatoinransrerselv extending supporting means, impact ineens mafiose includinga plurality of pairs of impact members the members of each pan: beingplaced end to end and having their outerends connected to the respectiveends of said supporting means, connecting means between tbe adjacentends ot' the impact members ot each pair, and a bowed resilient ballerliar interposed betweensaid support ing and impact means and having itseze tremities pivotally connected to one of and its medial portionbearing against the other olf said last-named means.

18. A bumper et.' the class described coinprisinggn in combination,transversely exiendincj snjiportingr means, impact, Ineens inrlmlingr aplurality of pairs of impact members tbe n'xernbers of each pair beingplaced end to end and having their outer ends connected to therespective ends of said snp-porting ineans, connecting ineensV betweenthe adjacent ends of the impact members oi each pair, and c bowedresilient butter bai .nterposed between said support! in LY and impactineens sind having its ein trcinities pivotell'yv connected with saidresportive impact .members and its medial portion bearing against scidsupporting ineens.

19. A bumper oil' the class described con;- prising, in combination,transversely extend-- ingl supporting means, a plurality of pairs ofimpact members thc members of each pair beiner placed end Vto end andhaving their outer ends connected to the 'respective ends of saidsupporting means, shackle connecting means between the adjacent, ends ofthe iinpact members of each pair, and resilient buffer means interposedbetween said snp portingn means and said impact members 20. Lnnnpcr oftlie class described. comprising, in combination, transverselyextendingsnpporting n'ieans, impact means includ ing;l a plnralitj` otpairs of impact members the members of each pair being placed end to endand havin@ their outer ends connected to tbc respective ends of seidsupporting ineens` shackle conneciingy means between the adjnccnlfendsof tbc impact members of each pairv` and a bowed resilient buffer barinterposed between said supporting; and iinpae means and baring; itsextremities pivotally connected to cnc of and its medial portionbearingv against the other oi said last-named means.

Q1. A bumper et flic class described ccmprisinte', in combination,transversely extending` supporting means, impact, means includ ing aplurality of pairs ot' impact members the members of encli pair boingplaced end to end and having their outer ends connected 'to therespective ends of said supporting.,Ar ineens, shackle conneetinfr meansbetween the adjacent. ends ol. the impact members of each pair, and abowed resilient broiler bar interposed between said supporting andinspect means and having its extremities pietally connected with saidrespective impact members and its n'iedial portion bearing against sindsupporting means.

bumper of the class described coin-A prising, combination, transverselyextending suppbrting means, impact means including a plurality of pairsof impact members the members ot each pair being placed end to end andhaving their outer ends connected to the respective ends of saidsupporting means, a resilient buffer bar interposed between saidsupporting means and said impact members and boned so that its medialportion bears against said supporting means 'and its eX- tremities lieadjacent the adjacent endsof the impact members of. each. pair, andshackle connecting means between the adjacent ends ot the impact membersof eachl pair and the ends of said buffer bar.

23. A bumper of the class described'coiiiprising, in combination,transversely extending supporting means, a plurality of pairs of impactmembers the members of each air being placed end to Aend and having teir outer ends pivotally connected to the respective ends ofsaidsupporting means,.slh'acklc connecting means between the adjacentends y ot the impact members of each pair, and resilient butter meansinterposed between said supporting means and said impact members.

,24a A' bumper of the class' described comprising, in combination,transversely extending supporting means, impact means includ'.- ing aplurality or' pairs 0f in pact members thil members ot each pair beingplaced 'end to end and having their outer ends pivotally connected totherespective ends-ot said supporting means, shackle connecting meansbetween the adjacent ends of tbe impact members ot each pair,l and abowed resilient butter bar interposed between said supporting and impactmeans and having its exits medial portion bearing against the other ot'said last-named means.

255, A bumper of the class described comprising, combination,transversely extending supporting means, impact means including aplurality of pairs of impact members the members of each pairbeingplaced end to end land having then outer ends pivotally connected to therespective ends of said supporting means, shackle connecting meansbetween the adjacent ends of the impact meinbcrs oit' each pair, and fabowed resilient buer bar interposedbetween said supporting and impactmeans and having its cxtremities pivotally connected with saidrespective impact members and its medial portion bearin against saidsupporting means.

2t. A bumper ot' the class described comprising, in combination,transversely extending supporting means, impact means inruding aplurality of pairs ot impact members the members of each pair beingplaced tremities pivotally`connected to oneo fand' end to end and havingtheir outer ends piv- ,otally connected to the respective ends of saidsupporting means, a resilient butter b'ar interposed between saidsupporting means and said impact members and bowed so that its medialportion bears against said supporting means and its extremities lieadjacent the adjacent ends of the impact members of each pair, andshackle connecting means between the adjacent ends of the immeansconnectingl the outer ends of said impact end portions with therespective ends of said supporting means, and a bowed resilient barinterposed between said supporting iand impact means and having itsextremities pivota'lly connected to one of and its medial portionbearing againstthe other of said last-named means. v

. 2S. .A bumper of the class described coinprising, in combination,resilient transversely .extending supporting means, resilient impactmeans the end portions of which are arranged so as to form' with saidsupporting means a structure of triangular formation, means connectingthe outer ends of said impact end portions with the respective endsofsaid supporting means, anda bowed resilient buffer bar interposed'between said supporting and impact means and havingits extr initiespivotally connected toV said impact ealis and its medial portion bearingagaibst 'said supporting means. p

29. A .bumper of the class described coinprising, V.in combination,resilient transverse- .ly vextending supporting means, impact'means'inclu'dlng a pair of members placed end to end and Karranged soas to form with said supporting means a structure of trian- ,o'ularformation, means connecting the outer ends of said members with therespective ends of said supporting means, means connecting the adjacentends of said members,

and buffer means interposed between lsaid' impact members and saidsupporting means.

30. A bumper of the class described coinprising, in combination,resilient transversely extending supporting means, impact meansincluding a pair of members placed ond to ond and arranged so as toform'with said supporting means a structure of triangular formation,means connecting the outer ends of said members with the respective'ends ot said supporting means, means connecting ythe adjacent ends ofsaid members, and a bowed resilient bar interposed between saidsupporting and impact means and having its extremities pivotallyconnected to one l icc " wea-ase and its mediai portion bearing againstthe other of said vtast-nanied means.

3i.. A, bumper of the class described com-- prising, in combination,resilient transversely extending' supportingl means, impact meansinciuding a pair of members placed d to end and arranged so as to formWith s supporting means a structure of triangular formation, meansconnectings the outer ends ci said members with the respective ends ofsupporting means, means connecting the adjacent ends of said members,and a bowed resilient buifer bar interposed between said supporting andimpact means and baring its extremities pivot/ally connected to saidimpact means and its medial portion bearing; against said supportingmeans.

3Q. A bumper ci the class described comprising in cmnbinationv`resilient transverseiy extending supporting means, impact meansincluding a pair of 'members placed end to end and arranged to form Withsaid supporting means a structure of triangular orrnation, meanspivotally connectingrtlie outer ends of said members with the respectiveends of said supporting' means, shackle means fer connecting; theadjacent ends of said members, and buffer means interposed between seidimpact members and said supporting means.

n A bumper ci the class described coin- 00. prising, in combination,resilient transversely extending supporting means., impact meansinciuding a pair of members piaced end to end and arranged to form withsaid supporting means a structure of triangular formation, meanspivotally connecting the outer ends of said members with the respectiveends of said supporting means, shackle means for connecting the adjacentends 'of said members, and a bowed resilient bar interposed between saidsupporting and impact means and having its extremities pivotallyconnected lto one of and its medial portion bearing against the other ofsaid' lest-named means* 34. A. bumper of the ciass described ccmprising,in combination, resilient transversely extending' supporting means,impact means including a pair. of members placed end to end and arrangedto form with said supporting` means a structure of triangular formation,means pivotally connecting the outer ends of said members with therespective ends of said supporting means, shackle means for connectingthe adjacent ends o' said members, and a bowed resilient buffer barinterposed between said supporting and impact means and having itsextremities pivotally connected to said impact means and its medialportion bearing against said supporting means.

CHARLES je. Ross.

